The individual who killed Governor Salman Taseer was sent to the gallows because he took the law into his own hands. By presenting a cheque of 50,000 rupees to a citizen as a reward for killing two robbers, the Sindh Police may have reinforced the same trend in lawlessness and vigilantism.

Last week, Sindh Inspector General (IG) AD Khawaja awarded a cash prize to Yasir, who shot dead two assailants attempting to rob him in the Nazimambad area of Karachi. Yasir was not only praised for his bravery but the police chief urged other citizens to make similar efforts to help the police.

This institutional endorsement of private killings conveys some very convoluted messages : First, that the state has abandoned its responsibility to protect its citizens. Second,  that the police is no longer a relevant institution. Third, that citizens must arm and protect themselves and that private executions of suspected criminals will be rewarded as an act of bravery.

A nuclear state in the twenty-first century which seems to be intentionally reversing its course towards pre-historic times is completely incomprehensible.

It did not occur to the police that the killing of the two robbers was a result of its own failure to apprehend the criminals – ever ready to pounce on their prey at every intersection of the city.

It did not occur to the police that the incident stemmed from the absence of an effective emergency incident reporting and response system.

It did not occur to the police that this vigilante action was a result of its apathy in taking back 20 million weapons in the hands of civilians.

It did not occur to the police that the killing was a result of its own inability to ensure that the IMEI ( the unique 15 digit number assigned to all cellular devices)  of all snatched phones is disabled and that all shops selling stolen phones are sealed.

Details of how these tasks can be accomplished have been repeatedly printed in newspaper articles and also sent to senior police officials. It is sad that the Sindh Police refuses to think  out of the box and reform its processes. Instead it has chosen to further relinquish its responsibilities and encourage citizens to take over policing duties.

As a citizens, we must protest against this mindlessness. The Sindh Police ought to reform itself and stop being a parasite at the tax payers’ expense. Citizens have a right to demand that the institution be shut down if we are to start hunting down criminals on our own.